You are here

Will You Have a Say When It Matters? -- May 10th Newsletter

Did you know that in the state of Virginia, the right of a member of the public to speak at a public meeting is not guaranteed?

I attempted to add such a protection to our State Code during the 2016 session of the General Assembly. My bill, HB 698, would have required every public body to afford an opportunity for public comment during any open meeting.

Had the bill been passed, it would have applied to Boards of Visitors at our state colleges and universities, as well as other public boards. A recent editorial by the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star highlighted the need for these bodies in particular to be required to allow input from major stakeholders, such as students and faculty.

Unfortunately, HB 698 was laid on the table by an unrecorded voice vote in a subcommittee of the House Committee on General Laws.

In spite of this setback, I intend to keep working for increased transparency in our state and local governments. You can help me make sure that people have a say in decisions that affect their lives.